Russians forcibly deport more than 14,000 children from Ukraine

Ukrinform reports that during the meeting of OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, permanent representative of the USA to this organisation, Michael Carpenter stated this.

According to him, Russia's aggressive war continues to bring pain and suffering to the most vulnerable sections of the population of Ukraine, particularly children.

"According to reports, the Kremlin's puppet government forcibly deported or otherwise moved more than 14,000 children to Russia," Carpenter emphasized.

Ambassador recalled how the "governor" of Sevastopol stated that Kremlin authorities allocated almost $100,000 for the construction of facilities in the occupied Crimea to accommodate more than 400 deported children. Also, on Russian website "Adoption in Moscow region" photos of 14 children taken from Kherson region were published.

"Russian Federation authorities primarily seek to eliminate all manifestations of Ukrainian national identity and turn all Ukrainians into loyal subjects of the Russian empire," Carpenter emphasized.

He also added that the US will continue to work with international partners and Ukraine to bring to justice those who committed crimes on Ukrainian territory.

• On January 18, Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported on Espreso that Russian Federation had deported tens of thousands of children from Ukraine and was not providing information about them.

• On January 27,mass media reported that at least 14 orphans were forcibly taken by Russian invading forces from Kherson to Elochka orphanage in Crimea, known for cruel treatment of children.

• On January 30, Lubinets discussed the issue of deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation with representatives of the European Council.

• On the same day, Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff reported that in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region, in Kakhovka district, Russians forbid children to study online according to the Ukrainian program and threaten to forcibly take them to Crimea and Russian Federation for "education".